New RVMS art teacher enjoys sharing her interest with students

Like many aspiring artists, Katherina Busch left high school – a 2008 graduate of Sleepy Eye Public – with dreams of making it big; having enrolled at the U of M, Busch, now the new RVMS art teacher, earned a degree in studio art with a minor in Asian languages....

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By Troy KrauseEditor

Redwood Falls Gazette

By Troy KrauseEditor

Posted Sep. 3, 2013 at 12:13 PM

By Troy KrauseEditor

Posted Sep. 3, 2013 at 12:13 PM

Like many aspiring artists, Katherina Busch left high school – a 2008 graduate of Sleepy Eye Public – with dreams of making it big.

Having enrolled at the U of M, Busch, now the new RVMS art teacher, earned a degree in studio art with a minor in Asian languages.

“For about my first year in college I planned to be an artist,” said Busch, adding she realized as she studied at the there was something else in store for her.

After earning her degrees, Busch extended her college stay and studied in the teacher program – ultimately earning a masters degree in art education.

“I had good art teachers when I was in school,” said Busch, adding Jamie Steffl, the RVHS art teacher, actually taught her in junior high at Sleepy Eye.

That influence was something that led her to the classroom, as was the opportunity she would have to share her interest and passion for art with others.

“For me art offers students a different way of thinking,” said Busch.

As a student Busch said she understood the concept of spatial thinking, but added when she started thinking like an artist a whole new world opened up for her.

She now wants to open the eyes of those students in Grades 5-8 to that world.

Students at the middle school level are getting those introductory elements of art in Busch’s class, as she teaches them the various art media and helps them learn the basics of each artistic style.

As an artist herself, Busch said she enjoys painting, and said the students are going to learn a lot about painting in her classes.

Beyond teaching art, Busch is working with the English as a second language (ESL) program in the Redwood Area School District, and in that area of her teaching position she works with students and teachers alike to improve communication.

She said about two hours of her day are spent working with that program.

Busch does do some painting in her spare time and said she took a painting class over the summer for fun and to improve her skills.

She is the daughter of Fritz, a reporter for the New Ulm Journal, and Marietta, who is an RN in Sleepy Eye.

Busch is planning this spring to help out with the track program as well.

Things are going very well for Busch in her new teaching position, and she said people in school and the community have been very welcoming and supportive.